Means for introducing flavor imparting agents into tobacco and tobacco articles



Aug. 16, 1966 w. T. CANAN 3,266,499

MEANS FOR INTRODUCING FLAVOR IMPARTING AGENTS INTO TOBACCO AND TOBACCO ARTICLES Filed Nov. 27, 1962.

IN VEN TOR.

WaZZer I Lazzaza United States Patent MEANS FOR INTRODUCING FLAVOR IMPARTING AGENTS INTO TOBACCO AND TOBACCO ARTICLES Walter T. Canan, Duarte, Calif. J. Harold Byers,

440 Munsey Bldg, Washington, D.C. 20004) Filed Nov. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 240,395 Claims. (Cl. 131-133) This invention relates to a novel method and means for imparting volatile flavoring agents, particularly menthol composition into tobacco and tobacco articles and is a continuation-in-part of an application, Serial No. 50,967, filed August 22, 1960, now Patent No. 3,105,499, which application is a continuation-in-part of a prior application, Serial No. 862,100, filed December 28, 1959, and issued March 27, 1962, as Patent No. 3,026,881, each of which applications were filed by applicant.

As pointed out in said prior applications, it has been conventional practice to introduce into smoking tobacco, and articles containing smoking tobacco, various flavoring and aromatizing agents as a step in the manufacture thereof. Also, it has been proposed to introduce volatile flavoring or aromatizing agents into manufactured smoking articles, by storing the volatile agents together with the tobacco articles in a confined space and for a period of time sufiicient to permit diffusion of, and transfer of, the volatile materials into the tobacco therein contained. By these procedures the product is delivered to the consumer with the added agent already incorporated. In this, the consumer has no control over the amount or over the strength of the added flavoring or aromatizing ingredient.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to make available to the ultimate consumer a convenient and ready-to-use means whereby he may introduce into his cigarette, or cigar or smoking tobacco, the flavor or aromatizing agent of choice, in such amount as he 'may select.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a convenient, simple and practical means whereby the smoker may accomplish the desired result.

A further object of the invention consists in the provision of an applicator for applying flavoring and aromatizi-ng agents, and in particulr, menthol composition to tobacco articles.

A further object of the present invention consists in the provision of an applicator that may be packaged if desired in a conventional cigarette pack, and without any necessitation for modification in the package.

- A further object of the invention consists in the provision of an applicator that may be manufactured expediently and economically, one that will retain a charge of volatile material for an extended period of time and without appreciable loss of the vapors thereof even if the material in the applicator is subjected to unusual temperature conditions tending to drive off the material by vaporization, or to cause it to become diffused by reason of liquefaction.

Recently, menthol as an addition to smoking tobacco has greatly increased in favor among tobacco users, The effect of the addition of a menthol ingredient is not fully understood, but in any event, has the function of imparting a characteristic that is liked by many smokers.

It is known practice to incorporate with the menthol additive certain other flavoring agents such as essential oils, mint flavor and the like, and in this view where, in the present application, reference is made to menthol or to menthol compositions, the presence of certain amounts of such additional flavoring agents is not eX- cluded. Moreover, since the effect or flavor of the menice thol comes through in the presence of other components that frequently are incorporated into cigarettes and other forms of smoking tobacco and articles formed therefrom, the presence of such additives in greater or lesser amounts such as alcohol, ether, glycerine ethylene glycol, filling substances, or thickening agents, is not excluded.

It being an object of the present invention to impart to tobacco a degree of flavor that is recognizable as essentially that of menthol, which although it may be attained by the employment of a composition which con sists of menthol or comprises that substance in major amount, may also be attained by the employment of a composition wherein menthol is in comparatively smaller amount, and, therefrom, the term composition consisting essentially of menthol herein is employed to denote any composition containing menthol wherein the menthol flavor will be readily apparent to the smoker.

Whereas, in my prior applications certain basic objects of the invention as therein described may be attained by means of a simple applicator comprising certain holding means, there being provided a head portion Where the menthol is located, a shank portion whereby the applicator may be held for purposes of use, and a cover means for the head of the applicator, which cover serves the purpose of retaining the volatile con-tents of the head portion. It is a further object of the present invention to provide applicator means of special design having particular advantages and novel features.

These features will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and made a part of this specification. However, in order that the invention may be fully understood and readily practiced, certain of the more salient embodiments of the invention will be described having reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective a package of cigarettes, wherewith there is supplied an applicator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an applicator according to FIG. 1 in more detail and with the wrapping of the head portion partly removed.

FIG. 3 is a view in cross-section taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

. FIG. 4 is a view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view in cross-section taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of an applicator according to FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrating in part the manner of formation thereof.

' FIG. 7 is -a view of a portion of the applicator similar to that shown in FIG. 6 but illustrating the applicator in a further stage of its manufacture.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view in cross-section taken along line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view showing in detail the insert portion according to the embodiment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a method of applying menthol composition to a cigarette, according to the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the flgures of drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a conventional cigarette package 10 in which, in partially withdrawn position, there is an applicator 12 constructed according to the present invention. This applicator, shown in more detail in FIG. 2, includes a shank 14, which latter is composed of plastic material and which in the illustrated embodiment is square in cross-section. Integral with the shank there is formed at the upper end thereof as illustrated a menthol composition retaining portion comprising a hollow opening with slits S1, S2, S3 and S4 leading to the exterior of the head portion.

Within the chamber formed by the slits (FIG. 3) there is contained a slug 18 of a composition consisting essentially of menthol. The outer end of the compositioncontaining chamber is closed by a bentover portion 28 which is integral with the shank and which consists actually of a folded over extension of one side of the plastic shank 14.

It will be understood that the described arrangement of the shank will act to contain the slug of menthol composition and to prevent it from escaping therefrom.

Within the purposes of the invention it is the aim to retain the menthol composition even if same is heated to as high a temperature as that at which the menthol composition will liquify. This condition can be encountered when the article is exposed to only unusually high atmospheric temperatures. To this end it is within the present concept to insure that the dimensions of the slits S1, S2, S3 and S4 be of a sufiicient small size that they will exert a certain capillary coherence with resulting retention of liquified menthol composition, in a manner that may be compared to the retention of a head of fused salt in a small wire loop, as in carrying out the so-called bead test.

In the light of the here-in disclosure it will be understood that the escape of a portion of the menthol composition would not render the device inoperative, as a very small amount of retained menthol composition would be sufficient to effect the intended use of the applicator.

In further accordance with the objects of the invention and to prevent escape of vaporized menthol and other ingredients from body 18, there may be provided a cover member 16 which may be wrapped around the slits S1, S2, S3 and S4, which cover member can be secured thereabouts by adhesive means. The outer end of the cover member 16 may be supplied with a small tab, which would not be coated with adhesive, the purpose of the tab being to enable the user to grip the cover means 16 and strip it from the slits in order to expose and utilize the menthol composition.

The applicator 22 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is constructed in the form of a cylindrical rod or tube 24. The end thereof is provided with a plurality of slits S5, S6, S7 and S8. In this embodiment the menthol composition 18a may completely fill the head of the applicator.

(FIG. 5), this being in contrast to the first described embodiment (FIG. 3). In forming the several types of head portions, a different technique is used, as will hereinafter be further described. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 the slitted head is protected by being wrapped with a cover member 26 which is made of preferably adherent tape-like material, and which serves to hermetically seal in the menthol composition under all conditions. In FIGS. 6 and 7 a preferred method of manufacture of the applicator of FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 is illustrated. After formation of the end portion, as in the manner shown in FIG. 6, the slug 18 of menthol composition is deposited in a space provided. Since the lower part of the body 12 is longer than the obverse portion, the excess length 28 can be folded back through 90 degrees to form a cap thereon as shown in FIG. 7, thereby enclosing the slug of composition 18. The manner of formation of the slug 18 is a matter of convention. One method would be to extrude the menthol composition under pressure at moderate heat through dies, and sever the thus extruded cylinder or rod to form segments of appropriate length.

The formation of the head of the applicator, on the other hand, may be accomplished by immersing the head portion in a bath of molten menthol composition. In this case the interior portion 18a and conjoined slit por-v tions S5, S6, S7 and S8 will be filled to the surface and beyond. The excess may then be buffed off, leaving the body of menthol composition substantially as shown in FIG. 5. According to a further embodiment shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, there is provided an insert member 34 having projecting portions D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5, et seq., the whole being coated for all or part of its length With menthol composition 36 (FIG. 8). The insert then may be placed in a tube 30, with the holding end 38 projecting therefrom and the cap 32 being placed thereover and secured by means of tube rim 40.

When it is desired to use the applicator in this form of the invention the cap 32 is removed, the menthol bearing insert 34 is taken out and thereby applied to its intended use.

In FIG. 11 a further embodiment is disclosed. In this a unit portion of menthol or menthol composition 41 and 42 is contained in the respective ampules 44 and 46 which are maintained at the end of shank 52, and are provided with fragile walls, it being contemplated to construct the entire applicator of a material such as glass. By seizing the tip 48 it may be broken along the approximate line to fracture 54 and the menthol composition applied as described.

FIG. 12 illustrates the manner of use of the invention employing, more particularly, an applicator of the types shown in FIGS. 1 to 10. In the illustration the cover member has been stripped from the end of the applicator and the latter has been applied to the heated portion of a cigarette just to the rear of the burning end. The heat from the cigarette will be found to be suflicient to slowly melt the menthol composition and permit it to flow into the wrapper and interior of the cigarette, the amount released being determined by the time of application and hence being easily controlled by the smoker.

The embodiment of FIG. 11 is more particularly designed to release a predetermined unit quantity of menthol composition.

What I claim is as follows:

1. An applicator for selectively and controllably introducing a composition consisting essentially of menthol into a tobacco article, said applicator comprising a shank portion and a normally solid body of menthol composition, said applicator comprising means for retaining said menthol composition in place when said composition is in the sol-id state, is heated to the temperature of liquefaction thereof, or is heated to a temperature at which vapors would normally escape therefrom, said means comprising a slotted head portion, and a strippable wrapping covering said slotted head portion, the slots in said head portion being of capillary dimensions.

2. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said means for retaining said body comprises a slotted head portion composed of plastic material.

3. An applicator for selectively and controllably introducing a composition consisting essentialy of menthol into a tobacco article, said applicator comprising a shank portion and a normally solid body of menthol composition retained in one end of shank, said shank having a hollow portion in said end thereof for retaining said body of menthol composition, said hollow portion being provided with at least one slot opening on the exterior of said shank portion and a strippable wrapping covering said slot opening, said slot opening being of capillary dimensions.

4. An applicator according to claim 3 wherein said slot is sufficiently small to retain by capillary coherence a substantial part of said menthol composition when the latter is heated to the temperature of liquefaction thereof.

5. An applicator according to claim 3 wherein said applicator is provided with a cap portion fitting over said end of said shank,

(References on following page) 5 6 References Cited by the Examiner 2,095,650 10/ 1937 Reichenbach 131-133 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,111,025 3/1938 Galler 1319 4/1917 Sharp 2,561,252 7/1951 Wanng 128-267 513%; g g 5 -1 5 SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner. 8/1927 I MELVIN D. REIN, ABRAHAM G. STONE, Examiners. 

1. AN APPLICATOR FOR SELECTIVELY AND CONTROLLABLY INTRODUCING A COMPOSITION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF MENTHOL INTO A TABACCO ARTICLE, SAID APPLICATOR COMPRISING A SHANK PORTION AND A NORMALLY SOLID BODY OF MENTHOL COMPOSITION, SAID APPLICATOR COMPRISING MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID MENTHOL COMPOSITION IN PLACE WHEN SAID COMPOSITION IS IN THE SOLID STATE, IS HEATED TO THE TEMPERATURE OF LIQUEFACTION THEREOF, OR IS HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE AT WHICH VAPORS WOULD NORMALLY ESCAPE THEREFROM, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A SLOTTED HEAD PORTION, AND A STRIPPABLE WRAPPING COVERING SAID SLOTTED HEAD PORTION, THE SLOTS IN SAID HEAD PORTION BEING OF CAPILLARY DIMENSIONS. 